Continuous method of forming two-part travelers

ABSTRACT

A two-part traveler is fabricated continuously by molding discontinuous synthetic plastic running portions on a single wire. The wire is severed intermediate successive running portions and preferable adjacent to one running portion. The portion of the wire projecting from the opposite side is shaped by means of a wire forming machine to form the traveler in a continuous rapid manner.

United States Patent Wayson et ai. 1 Nov. 28, 1972 [5 CONTINUOUS METHOD OF FORIVIING 3,411,286 11/1968 Wayson ..57/125 X TWO-PART 3,522,646 8/1970 Sibthorp ..29/417 [72] Inventors: Andrew J. Wayson, Needham; John FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS T. OConnelly, Medsfieid, both of Mass. 957,565 5/1964 Great Britain ..57/125 [7 3] Assignee: Merriman, lnc., Hingham, Mass. Pn-mmy Examiner john R Campbell [22] Filed: May 20, 1971 Assistant Examin'er-Donald C. Reiley, III 21 Appl. No.: 145,161 AmmeyRbm ABSTRACT (g1 ..29/417, 29/527.1, A Woman traveler is fabficated continuously by I g I I l a u u I n s I s n u u a u I s s u n n u n u u I I s s u e v s ll [58] Field of Search..57/125,29/417, 527.1,DIG. 29 tions on a single wire" The wire is severed imeb mediate successive running portions and preferable [56] References cued adjacent to one running portion. The portion of the UNITED STATES PATENTS wire projecting from the opposite side is shaped by 2 919 080 12/1959 M 7 57/125 X means of a wire forming machine to form the traveler OOre i a continuous ta manner. 2,999,276 9/1961 Morin ..29/527.l p 3,110,088 ll/l963 Blom, ..29/4l7 X 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnnvza m2 INVENTORS ANDREW J. WAYSON JOHN c. OCONNELL ATTORNEY CONTINUOUS METHOD OF FORMING TWO- PART TRAVELERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the textile industry and more particularly to an improved method of manufacturing travelers for use with either horizontal or vertical type spinning rings. As disclosed in Wayson et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,081, gradual technological improvements in the textile industry have resulted in higher spindle speeds with an accompanying increase in the productive capacity of spinning and twisting apparatus. The Wayson et al. patent features a two-part traveler construction having synthetic material bearing on the spinning ring and steel or other metal bearing on the twisted yarn passing thereunder. The use of two materials avoids premature failures which have occurred in unitary material travelers.

Heretofore such travelers have been manufactured in a batch process wherein a mold is provided having a plurality of separate recesses. Separate pieces of wire which have been preformed, then heat treated, and then positioned in each recess whereupon a synthetic plastic is deposited in the mold to manufacture the traveler. While producing travelers of good quality, this process has been time consuming and therefore relatively expensive. Much handlabor is necessary since the positioning of the wire and the mold has been accomplished manually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, two-part travelers are manufactured by molding a plurality of synthetic plastic runner portions'in spaced relationship on a single wire so that the wire extends through a plurality of the runner portions. The wire is severed adjacent to one side of each runner portion to produce discrete runner portions with wire ends extending from one side; Thereupon the extended wire ends are shaped to the desired shape to produce the desired two-part traveler.

In the preferred embodiment the wire is heat treated first before molding the runner portions thereon. The discrete runner portions with the extending wire pieces are fed into a wire forming machine which produces the desired shape. Most preferably the runner portion is molded in a general arcuate form.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a novel continuous method of manufacturing travelers.

Another object is to provide a relatively inexpensive and rapid method of manufacturing such travelers.

A further object is to provide a method of manufacturing which minimizes the requirements for manual labor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section view through a pair of dies utilized in a setting and final forming of the runner portions of the traveler on a continuous wire;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating runner portions deposited on a wire;

F IG. 3 is an elevational view illustrating one traveler element produced from the wire and running portions shown in FIG. 2 by severing the wire;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a vertical type traveler produced from the traveler element shown in FIG. 3 by bending the projecting wire end;

FIG. 5 is a broken away sectional view to a reduced scale of a traveler engaging a ring;

FIG. 6 is a plan view to a greatly reduced scale of a vertical type spinning ring having a traveler made with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a horizontal type traveler produced in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of another type of traveler produced in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown diagrammatically a pair of dies or molds 10, 11. Suitable platens (not shown) are provided for urging the dies 10, l 1 into firm engagement with each other under predetermined pressures and to supply a desired temperature. Wire 14 passes between the dies 10, 1 1 and particularly through recesses 16, 18 therein. Recesses 16,18 define the contour of the synthetic plastic runner portion of the finished traveler. By suitable means (not shown) the synthetic plastic is deposited between the dies. In the preferred embodiment a plurality of recesses are provided in spaced relationship within the dies and the wire 14 passes through each to provide for depositing a plurality of runner portions on the wire simultaneously. Preferably, the wire will be supplied from a reel (not shown) to the dies 10, 11 and then fed to the take-up reel (not shown). FIG. 2 shows the form of the'product as it leaves the dies and also as it appears on leaving the take-up reel, which allows variations in the speed of the wire leaving the mold and the wire passing on to the next step in the process. The take-up reel in the preferred form is mounted on a pivotally carried arm which is spring biased to maintain a constant tension on the wire.

In the preferred embodiment the assembly as shown in FIG. 2 is fed into a conventional four slide wire forming machine. The machine when properly set up will severe the wire 14 adjacent one side of each running portion 20 to form traveler elements 22 designated generally as in FIG. 3. The traveler elements 22 have extending wire ends 14 projecting therefrom. The wire 14 has been heat treated before positioning in the mold sufficiently to produce the necessary physical properties including hardness and sufficient ductility to permit forming the final two-part traveler. The wire forming machine also bends the extended end shown in FIG. 3

' into the form shown in FIG. 4. The heat treating of the wire is normally accomplished prior to any manufacturing operations and is selected such that the hardness of the wire will be sufficient to sustain the ultimate work load and the wire is ductile enough to allow the forming step resulting in the shape shown in FIG. 4.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the traveler designated generally as 2% manufactured in accordance with the above process is mounted on a spinning ring 30 and carries yarn 32. The resilience of the synthetic plastic runner portion 20 and wire 14 is sufficient to allow the traveler to be'snapped into place on the ring as well as to permit relatively easy removal for replacement with a minimum loss of time.

FIG. 7 illustrates another traveler 34 embodiment produced in accordance with the invention having wire 14 and runner portion 36. Another traveler 38 embodiment produced in accordance with the invention has a separate synthetic plastic head portion 42 distinct from the body portion 40 and wire 14.

It should be understood that the preferred embodiment utilizes a mold having a plurality of recesses which simultaneously deposits a plurality of runner portions on a single wire. It is apparent that the invention has application where the wire is directed into a circumferential groove within a drum and the drum is provided with spaced apart recesses circumferentially disposed on the drum adjacent the groove. A member having an arcuate concave face is positioned in closely spaced relation to a portion of the drum circumferential surface and an extruder forces synthetic plastic material between the drum and the member with the arcuate face to form runner portions at spaced apart intervals on the wire which is fed to the drum as it is driven angularly. This apparatus is capable of still higher production rates.

Furthermore, it should be apparent that this invention may be applied to the manufacture of travelers having different shaped runner portions. In addition the wire may be cut off intermediate successive runner portions to leave an end which may subsequently be bent over along the outer surfaces of the runner portion to provide further structural rigidity. The form of the wire may vary without departing from the invention and ac cordingly the wire may be part of a helix as opposed to the planar form shown and may even have apertures disposed therein for cooling. The wire forming machine may be of hydraulic or mechanical type. Similarly the wire utilized may be fed in long straight lengths instead of on reels. The surface of the wire portion may be surface treated as by flame spraying to produce further desirable wear resistant characteristics.

Thus, it can be seen from the foregoing detailed specification and drawing that the present invention provides a highly effective continuous method of manufacturing travelers which is capable of high manufacturing rates with a minimum of manual labor.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

jac ent to one side of each runner 1. A method of manufacturing a plurality of travelers, each of said travelers having at least one running portion and a metal wire portion extending therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

a. Molding a plurality of synthetic plastic runner portions on a single continuous metal wire in spaced apart relationship whereby wire portions extend from two sides of each runner portion;

b. Severing the wire intermediate successive each runner portions whereby discrete runner portions with a wire end extending therefrom is formed;

c. Bending the wire extending from each of said runner portions to a generally arcuate shape.

2. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said wire is heat treated to increase its hardness before said running portions are molded on said wire.

3. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said wire is severed adr tion. e method of manufac uring a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said severing and bending steps comprise feeding said wire and running portions thereon into a wire forming machine for automatic severing and bending.

5. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein separate synthetic plastic head portions are deposited on said wire between each runner portion whereby a traveler is provided having a synthetic plastic head portion connected by a wire to a synthetic plastic runner portion.

6. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said mold step comprises molding a plurality of runner portions simultaneously on said wire.

7. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said molding step comprises feeding said wire about the circumference of a drum having mold recesses deposited thereabout and having a member closely spaced to the circumference thereof for continuous forming of said runner portions.

8. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 further including a surface treating step to increase the hardness of the wire.

P0 1050 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE Us) CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION!" Patent No. 3,703,759 I I Dated November 28,

I .Inveocofls And iew wayson, John O'Connell I 1: is certified t hat: error Appears io the above-identified patent and chap'aaid Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Page l Title Page) v "O'Connellyflshould be 6'Connell ""Medsfi eld" should be -Medfiel1---.

In The Draxkiflg:

"John (3, O'Conriell" should be ;-John T. O'Connell-9.

Signed and sealedihis 1st day of Ma 1973..

v (SEAL) Attest: I

EDWARD p1. FLETCHEB; JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK" Attestirig Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A method of manufacturing a plurality of travelers, each of said travelers having at least one running portion and a metal wire portion extending therefrom, said method comprising the steps of: a. Molding a plurality of synthetic plastic runner portions on a single continuous metal wire in spaced apart relationship whereby wire portions extend from two sides of each runner portion; b. Severing the wire intermediate successive each runner portions whereby discrete runner portions with a wire end extending therefrom is formed; c. Bending the wire extending from each of said runner portions to a generally arcuate shape.
 2. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said wire is heat treated to increase its hardness before said running portions are molded on said wire.
 3. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said wire is severed adjacent to one side of each runner portion.
 4. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said severing and bending steps comprise feeding said wire and running portions thereon into a wire forming machine for automatic severing and bending.
 5. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein separate synthetic plastic head portions are deposited on said wire between each runner portion whereby a traveler is provided having a synthetic plastic head portion connected by a wire to a synthetic plastic runner portion.
 6. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said mold step comprises molding a plurality of runner portions simultaneously on said wire.
 7. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 wherein said molding step comprises feeding said wire about the circumference of a drum having mold recesses deposited thereabout and having a member closely spaced to the circumference thereof for continuous forming of said runner portions.
 8. The method of manufacturing a traveler as described in claim 1 further including a surface treating step to increase the hardness of the wire. 